Latch assembly



June 5, 1962 E. s. KORDOWSKI 3,037,655

LATCH ASSEMBLY Filed April 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

June 5, 1962 E. s. KORDOWSKI LATCH ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet v Filed April 9, 1959 aQz/ard jfiorciow /z BY M,% a

tates ate 6 3,037,555 Patented June 5, 1962 3,037,655 LATCH ASSEMBLY Ware Filed Apr. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 805,235 2 Claims. (Cl. 217-68) This invention pertains to a latch assembly, especially suited for use in the construction of containers, specifically for securing the various members composing the container in the desired relationship. The invention further pertains to containers utilizing such latch assemblies in their construction.

Containers for the bulk packaging of goods and materials, such as raw materials, machine parts, and the like, must generally be of an economical construction since they are part of the operating cost of the user. Moreover, in many instances, the container must be easily assembled since the user generally purchases the component parts unassembled, as a matter of convenience and efficiency, and assembles them at the point of loading. If the containers are of the reusable type, it is further necessary that they be easily disassembled at the point of unloading so that they can be conveniently stored and transported until needed for use again.

Manufacturers of such containers are constantly endeavoring to design and construct them so that they will meet the above requirements. Heretofore, it has been the common practice to utilize short lengths of wire or other readily bendable material for holding the ends of abutting members in their desired relationship. Such wires were selected expressly as a matter of economy, and secondly, for the reason that they may be easily bent and otherwise twisted together to bind the respective parts in the desired relationship. If it should be desired to disassemble the box, it is merely necessary to cut the tie-wires so that the components of the container may be separated. Since the short lengths of wire generally cost only a fraction of a cent, it is economically feasible to replace the cut wires when it is desired to reassemble the box, and tie them in the manner previously described.

While the use of wires has many desirable features, particularly the feature of low cost, there are certain problems inherent in their use. When the wires are intertwisted or cut as previously described, short lengths thereof are generally broken off as scrap. In certain types of industry, particularly those dealing with food and tobacco, and any other products destined for human consumption, it has been found that these scraps of wire are particularly troublesome and undesirable. It is apparent that if any such scraps should become mixed with the products, such as food and tobacco, serious consequences could result. For this reason it has been necessary to invent a latch means which may be used in the construction of containers that may be readily assembled and disassembled. This latch means not only must eliminate the intolerable scrap, but it must have the equally important feature of economy.

The latch means may be broadly characterized as being composed of first and second keeper members which are mounted adjacent respective ends of construction members that are to be held in abutting relationship. The latch means is further composed of an elongate bight member hingedly secured at one end to the first keeper member and constructed of a wire member having its ends twisted together intermediate the first leg of the bight member. The second leg of the bight member has a first portion adjacent the first keeper member, and a second portion spaced therefrom at right angles to the first portion. The second portion is receivable in the second keeper member, whereby the keeper members are restrained from assuming a spacing substantially greater than the length of the first portion. While this latch means is specifically designed for the use in construction of containers, such as bulk packaging crates and the like, it is to be kept in mind that it may be utilized in other environments where desired.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a latch means that may readily be manufactured and assembled without any particular skills.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a container, such as a pallet box or the like, that may be readily assembled and disassembled.

The above features and objects of the invention will be apparent upon reading of the specification with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one type of container in which the latch assembly embodying the invention has been utilized in the construction thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary section in detail and in elevation showing a first latch assembly when in latching position and a second latch assembly when in unlatch ing position;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a preformed wire that is especially suited for use in constructing the latch assembly; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the preformed Wire after partial completion of the latch assembly.

Although the specification describes the invention in terms of a pallet box, it will be apparent that the invention is equally applicable to other types of containers, and may even be utilized in environments completely remote therefrom. It will be further apparent that the components of the container described herein may utilize various types of materials, such as Wood, fiberboard, and the like, except for the various metallic members, as will be described hereinafter.

It should also be pointed out that the terms wires and bands are interchangeable where used hereinafter and are contemplated to include all equivalents.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a container in the form of a cylindrical pallet box generally denoted by the numeral 10. This pallet box is by way of example and is the subject of the co-pending application assigned to the common assignee, Serial No. 737,768, and filed May 26, 1958.

As shown in the drawing, the container 10 includes a side Wall generally denoted by the numeral 12 which is constructed of a plurality of elongate slat members 14. The slat members 14 are interconnected in articulate fashion by the wires 16 which are secured to the same by the staples 18 to form a matlike construction. At the base of at least a part of the elongate slat members 14 are the inwardly extending cleat members 20. The cleat members 20 serve as flanges which are utilized in securing the vertical Wall 12 to the base of the container as will be described hereinafter.

The base of the container is generally denoted by the numeral 22 and is composed of a substantially circular platform 24. The platform 24 in this instance is shown as being mounted on the skid members 26, which are sufficiently spaced to permit the insertion of the lift members of the commonly used fork-lift trucks. The base 22 further includes the annular channel 28 mounted near the periphery of the platform 24. The annular channel 28 has a substantially Z-shaped cross-section with an inwardly extending flange 2811 at the bottom, and an outwardly extending flange 28b at the top thereof. The annular flange 28b receives the inwardly extending cleat members which are secured adjacent the lower ends of the slat members 14, and as a result secure the latter to the platform. The cleat members 26 are locked in their engaged position by means of a strap 30, which extends around the base of the wall 12.

The ends of the mat formed by the slat members 14 are secured together by the latch assemblies, which are generally denoted by the numeral and which will be fully described hereinafter.

At the upper ends of the slat members 14 are the inwardly extending cleat members 41. These cleat members act as reinforcements for the slat members, and at the same time, provide a shoulder for receiving a suitable lid (not shown) for the container.

A similar container, commonly called a hogshead, is used in the tobacco industry. The hogshead does not include a base but rather utilizes top and bottom lids which are secured within the rolled mat by cleats or equivalent means. It is the practice to prize the hogshead with as much of the raw tobacco as is possible so that during the prizing operation it is subjected to extremely high compressive forces, in that the tobacco is prized or compressed with large hydraulic rams suitable for this purpose. In order to meet the requirements of this industry, it was necessary to invent a latch assembly which would permit ready assembly and disassembly of the container and at the same time eliminate the problem of Wire scrap, as well as be strong enough to withstand the extraordinary forces resulting from the prizing op eration.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, there is shown detailed illustrations of the latch assembly embodying the invention. The latch assembly 40 is shown as being mounted on fragmentary sections of the slat members 42, similar to those that may be used in the construction of the pallet box shown in FIGURE 1.

The wire members 44 are secured to slats 42 by means of the staples 46 as is the practice in the construction of such containers. The ends of the wire members 44 adjacent the respective ends 48 and Stl of the slat members 42 are return bent to form the loop constructions 52 and 54. The return bent ends of the wire members 44 are secured to their respective slat members by means of the prong 56 which is driven into the wood as best shown in FIGURE 3. The loop members 52 and 54 act as keeper members for the latch assembly 40, as will be seen hereinafter.

The latch assembly 40 further includes a bight member generally denoted by the numeral 6%, which in its preferred form is constructed of a relatively stiff, but bendable wire. The bight member 60 is generally elongate in shape and is primarily composed of a first leg 62 and a second leg 64. It will be noted that the bight member 60 may be characterized as a closed loop. It can be seen that the ends of the wire member from which the bight 60 is constructed have been intertwisted to form the twist 66 intermediate the ends of the leg 62. The bight member 60 is interlooped at one end with the loop member 52, and is preferably free to move in a hinged fashion as can be seen in FIGURE 2.

The leg 64 of the bight 60 is composed of a first portion 70 and a second portion 72 at substantially right angles thereto. The leg 62 has a similar right angle portion 74, but which is spaced further from the end interlooped with the loop means 52 than the portion 72. The right angle portions 72 and 74 form a substantially U- shaped construction which is approximately at right angles to the bight member 60, and is generally denoted by the numeral 76.

The U-shaped construction 76 is received in the loop means 54 which acts as a keeper member for the latch assembly 40, as is mentioned previously. When in this position, the right angle portion 72 is in a substantially hooking relation with the end of the loop means 54, as shown in the drawing. This relationship secures the 4 ends 48 and 50 of the slat members 42 in a substantially abutting position, in that the loop members 52 and 54 are restrained from assuming a spacing substantially greater than the length of the portion 70 of the leg 64.

It is to be noted that since the right angle portion 72 is in hooking relationship with the loop member 54, relatively little stress is imparted to the leg 62. Consequently, any stresses that would normally tend to untwist, or otherwise separate the ends of the wire used in the construction of the bight member 60 are minimized. This arrangement permits the bight member 60 to be somewhat stronger than the wires 44, assuming that they are constructed of the same type and gauge wire, and at the same time eliminates the possibility of the untwisting of the ends of the bight wire.

A U-shaped pin member is used to retain the U- shaped construction 76 in the loop member 54. The pin member 80 in its preferred form is comprised of a substantially straight leg 82 and a preformed serrated leg 84, with the former extending through the U-shaped construction 76, as shown in the drawings. The purpose of the preforming of the leg 84 is to permit easy insertion of the pin, but at the same time prevent accidental removal thereof, during the handling of the container. It should be noted that while the pins 80 are certainly desirable, they may be removed, purposely or accidentally, without unlatching of the latch assemblies. This feature is the result of the construction of leg 84, specifically the right angle configuration, which provides a locking engagement with the loop 54.

A further feature resulting from imparting the brunt of the load on the right angle portion 72, rather than the right angle portion 74, is that it substantially eliminates crushing the U-shaped construction 76 to the extent that it is difficult or impossible to remove the pin member 80.

As will be recalled, the magnitude of the stresses imparted to the leg 62, and consequently the right angle portion 74, is extremely small so that there is little tendency to bend or otherwise deform the portion 74. This feature is significant in that one of the requirements of the container is that it be readily disassembled as well as assembled. If the loop construction 76 Were to bind the pin 8% so tightly that it could not be removed, it is obvious that this requirement would be defeated.

Referring to the lower embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, the latch assembly is shown in the unlatched condition. If it should be desired to place the bight member 69 in latching position, it is first necessary to rotate the bight about its major axis to the position shown in the drawing. This is possible since the bight is hingedly interlooped with the loop member 52, as was mentioned previously. When the bight member 60 has been rotated about the axis to a position shown in the drawing, it may be rotated about the interlooped end until the U-shaped construction 76 is received in the loop member 54. When that step is completed, the bight member 60 may then be rotated in the reverse direction about its major axis until the U-shaped construction 76 is at substantially right angles to the slat 4-2 and projects outwardly through the loop member 54. If it should be desired to unlatch the bight member 60, it is merely necessary to follow these steps in reverse order.

It should also be noted that in this particular construction the bights may be latched and unlatched by spring ing the loops with a suitable prying instrument until there is sufiicient clearance for the U-shaped construction to be moved in and out of hooking position.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is shown a preformed wire which is especially suited for constructing the bight member 69. The preformed wire 90 is composed of a first leg portion 92 and a second leg portion 94 which form the legs 62 and 64, respectively, of the bight member 60. At one end of the leg member 94 is a right angle bend which results in a right angle portion 95. At the same end of the leg member 92 there is a similar right angle bend and right angle portion 98 which co-operates with the right angle portion 96 to provide a U-shaped construction 100 which ultimately forms the U-shaped construction 76 shown in FIGURE 2.

In FIGURE there is shown an illustration of the preformed wire 90 as placed in a position ready for the intertwisting of the ends 102 and 104 of the legs E12 and 94. The U-shaped member 1th) has been hooked into a loop member 54 of the container. The free end 104 of the leg 94 has been extended through the adjacent loop 52 of the container and then has been bent outwardly at substantially right angles thereto. The leg 92 has likewise been bent outwardly at right angles but short of the loop member 52, as shown in the drawings. The outwardly extending portions 102 and 104 may then be intertwisted in any suitable manner such as by the twisting tools commonly used in the box and Wire industries. It will be noted that as the ends 102 and 104 are intertwisted, the loops are drawn up until the ends of the slats are in the desired relationship. Thus it might be said that each of the bight members 60 is tailor-made for the latch assembly in which it is used. This feature is particularly beneficial because the spaces between the ends of associated loops do vary since the loops are constructed within predetermined tolerance. Thus a direct advantage of the bight construction is the facility with which the ends of the slat members may be uniformly positioned, either spaced or in abutting relationship.

By constructing the bight member in this fashion it is possible to utilize certain elements, particularly the loops at the wire ends, that are commonly provided by the container itself without any considerable additional cost or labor. Accordingly, in view of this feature and the other features discussed previously, it is apparent that such containers meet the requirements of industries such as those related to the handling, processing, and transporting of food, tobacco, and other products of similar character.

While the latch assembly embodying the invention has been shown utilizing wires which extend substantially completely around the circumference of the container, it should be kept in mind that this is merely by way of example. It may be possible to preform the loops in certain instances from relatively short lengths of wire, and as a matter of fact it may be possible to substitute other types of keeper members for the loops altogether.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this is merely by way of example and in no manner to be construed as a limitation. It is contemplated that certain changes may be made within the scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container the combination comprising a wall means having first and second ends secured in abutting relationship, a latch means bridging said first and second ends for retaining the same in said abutting relationship, said latch means being composed of first and second keeper members positioned adjacent said first and second ends, respectively, and a closed loop member having first and second legs and being secured at one end to said first keeper member, said loop member being constructed of a Wire-like member having its ends secured together intermediate said first leg of said loop member, said second leg of said loop member having a first portion adjacent said one end thereof and a second portion spaced from said one end thereof at substantially right angles to said first portion, said second portion being engageable with and disengageable from said second keeper member so that said first and second ends may be assembled and disassembled, and detachable means for fixing said second portion within said second keeper member.

2. In a container the combination comprising a mat having first and second ends, said mat being constructed of a plurality of thin wall members connected in articulate fashion by at least one horizontal Wire substantially extending the length thereof, the ends of said wire being return bent to form first and second loop ends terminating adjacent the said first and second ends of said mat, respectively, a latch assembly for securing said ends in abutting relationship, said latch assembly comprising a closed loop member having first and second legs and being interlooped with said first loop means, said loop member being constructed of a wire member having its ends twisted together intermediate said first leg, said second leg of said loop member having a first portion adjacent said one end and a second portion spaced from said one end at substantially right angles to said first portion, said first leg being bent at right angles with the right angle portion connected to said second portion but normally spaced farther from said one end than said second portion so as to form a U-shaped construction at substantially right angles to said loop member, said U- shaped construction being received in said second loop means in hooking relationship therewith, with said second portion being in touching relationship with said second loop means, and detachable means received within said U-shaped construction for fixing the same within said second loop member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 183,234 Tweeddale Oct. 10, 1876 285,947 Ashley Oct. 2, 1883 372,375 Kilmer Nov. 1, 1887 448,022 Gish Mar. 10, 1891 816,858 Ham Apr. 3, 1906 1,892,153 Kernodle Dec. 27, 1932 2,277,056 Babcock et al. Mar. 24, 1942 

